THE GLOW from Graham Geraghty's face after yesterday's victory by Meath might usefully be tapped into the national electricity grid. Having fought his way through the back-slapping throngs of ecstatic supporters on the pitch after the convincing victory over Tyrone at Croke Park yesterday, he seemed relieved to be surrounded by note-book-and-microphone-wielding reporters. He paused to draw his breath before surrendering himself to the less-than-tender mercies of his near delirious team-mates.

By any standards his performance was stupendous. A contribution of a goal and four points, all from play, left him unopposed in the race for "Man of the Match" in everyone's estimation.

As he gasped for oxygen he said: "That was the fastest match I have ever taken part in. Nobody was given a chance to settle on the ball. When you got your hands on it you knew the challenge was coming straight away. Tyrone were very fast early on."

"You had to move the ball quickly or you were in trouble and I think we moved the ball better than they did. Our midfielders (Jimmy McGuinness and Johnny McDermott) played brilliant stuff and they answered the people who had given them a lot of stick after the Dublin match."

"Once we got on top at midfield I knew we were going to do well. They fetched some great balls and kept the pressure on Tyrone all the time. The best thing about it was that they played the ball in nice and low and out to the wings. That gave us a chance of moving the ball quickly in passing movements and when my chance came I had a good look at the goal and hit the ball as hard as I could. It went just inside the post."

"That was a great boost for us. It came from a very good passing move."

Asked for a forecast for the final against Mayo he paused for a moment. "That is another day's work. I think we gave Tyrone too much room at times today. We can't afford to do that against Mayo. Their attack would punish that kind of thing and their midfield will not be easy to overcome. I believe we can win but it will not be easy," he said before disappearing into yet another scrum of congratulations.

In moments like these Sean Boylan, the team manager, is normally calm and in total control. On this occasion there seemed to be a more upbeat attitude in his demeanour. He went around the Meath dressing-room hugging players, patting backs and cheeks, as though it had been the first victory he had ever experienced.

"Yes that gave me a lot of pleasure," he eventually admitted. "We played really well and I am particularly delighted for the younger players. They have put a huge amount of effort and commitment into this and I admit that I drove them hard. Now they realise how worthwhile the effort has been and I know I will have their full commitment for our preparations for the match against Mayo," he said.

The appearance of former great Meath players like Colm O'Rourke and Terry Ferguson in the dressingroom was greeted with whoops of delight by their successors.

Two other men who have seen both days and who now seem to have earned a new lease of football life are Martin O'Connell and Colm Coyle. The two accepted all the euphoria thrown at them.

0'Connell defies description as he acts as sweeper, adviser, lecturer and sometimes referee while retaining the incredible knack of being in several places at the same time.

Coyle's nobility seems not to have diminished either. The fiery approach may have dampened down a bit, perhaps not a bad thing, but that tear-less determination to be first to the ball in spite of the obstacles which may be put in his way, has in no way lessened. Mayo would be well advised to ponder long on what faces them on September 15th.

As the young and not all that young players wipe the sweat and the soap away some of those who can remember battles long ago are just as pleased. Fintan Ginnity has presided over administrative matters in Meath for many years and has lost none of the enthusiasm.

"That kind of a performance gives me great satisfaction," he says quietly. Brian Smith responds likewise. "We have set out to prove that we can be the best and we will never stop believing that. Today was a great day for football," he says.

But inevitably Sean Boylan gets the last word. "I really feel for Tyrone. They had hard luck last year in the final. They came back to win the Ulster title for the second time in a row this year and they believed that they could win out this year. It must be a great disappointment to them," he said.

Asked if he would have similar sympathy for Mayo in the final he looked balefully at the questioner: "Don't forget they beat us in the final of 1951," he said, ominously.